Director of Philanthropy

The Hill Center, Inc.; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement match

Professional development

Job summary

Hill Learning Center in Durham, North Carolina seeks a strategic Director of Philanthropy to lead its fundraising program and advance support for students with learning differences. You will build major donor relationships, cultivate foundations and corporate partners, and guide a high-performing philanthropy team under the Executive Director.

The role drives annual, multi-year, campaign, and planned gifts, shaping programs and partnerships that sustain Hill’s educational mission and expand

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of progressive experience in philanthropy.
• Proven success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors.
• Experience building foundation and corporate partnerships, including grants and sponsorships.
• Experience developing and implementing fundraising plans aligned with priorities.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff while building a collaborative team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to articulate a compelling case for support.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy with revenue goals and measures of success.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and build lasting relationships.
• Strengthen prospect development, planned giving, donor retention, and stewardship.
• Coach and develop staff, assign responsibilities, and coordinate team activities.
• Engage Board members and volunteers in fundraising; align donor interests with Hill’s priorities.
• Oversee fundraising operations, data, reporting, and donor fulfillment with Finance.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Major gifts

Donor stewardship

Staff coaching

Board engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM systems

Grant research

Job description

Description

Director of Philanthropy

Hill Learning Center | Full-time | Reports to the Executive Director

Hill Learning Center seeks a strategic, relationship-centered fundraising leader to advance its work as an educational resource for students, families, and educators. Through specialized instruction, tutoring, professional learning, and community partnerships, Hill strengthens teaching and learning for students with learning differences and attention challenges. As Hill prepares for its 50th anniversary, the Director of Philanthropy will help translate this work into a compelling case for investment, securing support that sustains its programs, expands access, and deepens its impact. The Director leads Hill’s philanthropy team and fundraising strategy, builds major donor relationships, and secures significant philanthropic support. Working closely with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Philanthropy Committee, the Director secures annual, multi-year, campaign, and planned gifts and is accountable for overall fundraising performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including revenue goals, budgets, campaign priorities, and measures of success.
• Manage a portfolio of high-capacity individual and family donors, building relationships that lead to significant and sustained philanthropic support.
• Strengthen prospect development, planned giving, donor retention, and stewardship.
• Coach and develop staff, establish clear responsibilities and donor assignments, and coordinate team activities.
• Engage Board members and volunteers in fundraising and collaborate with program and communications leaders to connect donor interests with Hill’s priorities.
• Oversee fundraising operations, data, reporting, and spending, partnering with Finance to ensure accurate gift administration and fulfillment of donor intent.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of progressive experience in philanthropy, with a record of fundraising success across multiple programs and funding priorities.
• Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors while building a strong pipeline of prospective supporters.
• Proven experience building foundation and corporate partnerships, including successful grant and sponsorship strategies.
• Proven experience developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising plans aligned with organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop staff while building a collaborative, accountable team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to listen thoughtfully, build trust, and articulate a compelling case for support.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, and collaborate effectively with staff, board members, and volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to set priorities, manage competing demands, and follow through on commitments.

This is a full-time position that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; matching retirement programs; professional development opportunities and more!

About Hill Learning Center:

Founded in 1977, Hill Learning Center’s mission is to transform students with learning differences into confident, independent learners. Hill Learning Center supports students, educators, and families with research-based, culturally relevant programs designed to meet the needs of students with learning differences, attention challenges, gaps in foundational academic skills, and difficulties with executive function.

Hill serves students in grades K-12 through school, summer, and tutoring programs at Hill and in local schools. Students receive individualized, research-based instruction in reading, writing, math, and executive function skills. Programs focus on helping students develop the academic, organizational, self-advocacy, and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Hill offers virtual and in-person educator professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers and schools, providing an understanding of learning disabilities and ADHD and the instructional strategies and tools teachers need to deliver research-based instruction and intervention in reading, writing, math, and executive function skills.

Hill helps families better understand, support, and advocate for their children with learning differences and attention challenges. Hill School families have access to counseling services, postsecondary planning, and other learning opportunities and support. Hill also offers online learning and Hill Connect—a free series for parents and caregivers—and partners with local schools and nonprofits to provide resources and programming for the families and communities they serve.

Core Values

We Learn We are lifelong learners. We approach all that we do with a growth mindset and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. We learn from our students, our colleagues, other educators, and our partners. We seek out and embrace new ideas while remaining true to strategies we know work.

We Empower We empower students to take charge of their own learning and lives. We empower teachers to use their knowledge, skills and creativity to lead students to success. We empower staff to discover new and better ways of doing things.

We Reach We strive to reach an ever-increasing number of students, teachers, and schools to support their growth and success. We partner to extend our reach, expand our expertise, and learn from others. We challenge and support students, teachers, our partners, and our colleagues to reach their full potential.

We Relate We develop personal relationships with students, parents, teachers, colleagues, and partners. We empathize. We listen. We communicate. We collaborate. We connect. We relate.

We Care We care about students and their families. We care about teachers. We care about each other. We care about making a difference in students' lives, in schools and school districts, and in our community.